UCI Faculty

A Southern California native, Dr. Wong earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He also studied engineering at Oxford University as a Rotary Foundation Scholar and medical physics at the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Wong completed fellowship training in Facial Plastic Surgery at UC Irvine. He is Professor and Vice Chairman, and Director of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Wong is a specialist in facial plastic surgery with a practice that encompasses both aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. His expertise is aesthetic (rhinoplasty) and corrective nasal surgery where he uses a variety of high tech instrumentation in surgery. Dr. Wong also performs minimally invasive and endoscopic cosmetic surgery aesthetic procedures along with traditional aesthetic operations (facelift, neck lift, browlift, and eyelid surgery). He is an expert in the use of lasers in the head and neck and is pioneering the use of lasers for reconstructive and aesthetic nasal surgery. Dr. Wong’s clinical practice is based at both UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange and the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic in Irvine. His research interests are in the field of biomedical engineering with specific interests in medical device development and laser applications in medicine.

Dr. Lin’s medical school education was at the University of Southern California, followed by his residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lin then completed the Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery fellowship program at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Lin fills an important clinical need in the residency training program in the medical and surgical management of disorders of the ear. Dr. Lin brings clinical expertise to his otology and neurotology patients, and is an integral part of the UCI skull base surgery team.

Dr. Eric Abello is a specialist in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery based in Orange, California. He completed his medical degree at Rush Medical College following his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Abello went on to complete his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, where he developed advanced expertise in complex surgical care of the head and neck. He then pursued a prestigious fellowship in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Dr. Abello’s clinical practice focuses on head and neck oncologic surgery, microvascular reconstruction, transoral robotic surgery, and facial plastic surgery. His research interests include the surgical outcomes of orbital floor fractures, comparative approaches to facial trauma management, and the impact of technological advances in otolaryngologic diagnosis. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in these areas and remains active in academic collaborations and resident education. Dr. Abello is dedicated to combining advanced surgical innovation with compassionate patient-centered care to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes in head and neck reconstruction.

Dr. Ahuja attended medical school at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, followed by a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head-&-Neck Surgery. Dr. Ahuja is the Vice-President for Surgical Services and Division Chief of Otolaryngology-Head-&-Neck Surgery for the Pediatric Subspecialty Faculty at Rady Children’s Health of Orange County (R-CHOC), and serves as Medical Director for Otolaryngology for R-CHOC. He is Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at UC Irvine. He is particularly interested in pediatric airway reconstruction, pediatric sinus surgery, childhood hearing loss and congenital head and neck disorders. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Ahuja has co-authored numerous publications in peer reviewed medical journals. He is actively involved in the arena of human relations, social justice, and inter-faith understanding, serving on the Board of Directors of the Sikh Coalition and Groundswell.

Dr. Gabriel Arom is a board-certified pediatric otolaryngologist serving the community at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, California. He earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University and completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. Following residency, Dr. Arom pursued a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he developed specialized expertise in treating complex ENT disorders in infants, children and adolescents.
His clinical subspecialties include the management of pediatric sleep apnea, endoscopic airway surgery, congenital head and neck masses such as thyroglossal duct and branchial cleft cysts, pediatric thyroid cancer surgery, minimally invasive sinus and skull-base surgery, congenital ear anomalies including microtia and associated hearing loss. Dr. Arom is part of CHOC’s multidisciplinary otolaryngology team that provides state-of-the-art, child-centered surgical care, combining surgical innovation with compassionate family-focused practice. He is dedicated to reducing the burden of ENT disease in young patients and optimizing both functional and developmental outcomes through advanced surgical techniques and teamwork.

Dr. Naveen Bhandarkar is a board-certified otolaryngologist and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He specializes in the medical and surgical management of disorders of the nose, paranasal sinuses, and skull base, with advanced expertise in complex and revision endoscopic sinus surgery. Dr. Bhandarkar has performed more than 2,500 endoscopic procedures, managing challenging cases of chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, sinus tumors, and cerebrospinal fluid leaks using state-of-the-art, minimally invasive technologies. Dr. Bhandarkar earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He then pursued a fellowship in Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University under the mentorship of Dr. Timothy Smith. His clinical and research interests include sinusitis outcomes, image-guided and balloon-assisted sinus surgery, skull base tumor management, and endoscopic repair of CSF leaks. Dr. Bhandarkar is an integral member of UCI’s multidisciplinary skull base surgery team and actively participates in resident education, clinical research, and peer-review for major otolaryngology journals.

Dr. Jay Bhatt is a board-certified pediatric otolaryngologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, California, where he delivers advanced surgical and medical care for infants, children, and adolescents with ear, nose, throat, airway and head-and-neck disorders. After completing his integrated engineering-and-medicine undergraduate program with honors at The George Washington University, he earned his MD and then pursued residency training in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. Dr. Bhatt advanced his training with a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver.
Dr. Bhatt’s clinical areas of emphasis include pediatric otology, cleft lip and palate care, complex airway reconstruction, and surgical management of sleep disorders in children. He integrates minimally invasive and image-guided techniques with compassionate family-centered care to optimize both short- and long-term outcomes. At CHOC, he works within multidisciplinary teams comprising audiologists, speech-language therapists, pulmonologists, and other specialists to tailor care plans for each patient’s developmental and functional needs. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Bhatt is active in outcomes research and regularly contributes to peer-reviewed journals, committed to advancing pediatric ENT practice.

Dr. Djalilian is a professor of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and biomedical engineering at UC Irvine. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed and invited articles and lectured more than 200 times at national and international meetings, and published 3 books. In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Djalilian conducts research in several areas related to device and software development for treating tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, ear infections, among others. He has multiple granted and pending patents on medical devices and the treatment of tinnitus. He is a member of multiple committees of national organization and has been a thought leader on the role of migraine in ear disorders like dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, etc. and is the president of the Migraine in Otolaryngology Society. He is the chief medical advisor to telemedicine start-ups, NeuroMed Clinic, to medically treat patients with tinnitus using protocols developed at UC Irvine from his research. In addition to novel medical treatments, he has developed new procedures for treating cholesteatomas and other complex ear disease, facial nerve disorders, and skull base tumors and CSF leaks. Patients from nearly all states in the U.S. as well as a multitude of other countries and most states in the U.S. have sought care with him.

Dr. Haidar earned her medical degree from UC San Diego School of Medicine. She completed a residency in head and neck surgery at UC Irvine Medical Center and a fellowship in head and neck cancer surgery and microvascular reconstruction at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She is a board-certified UCI Health head and neck surgeon who specializes in the surgical treatment of head and neck cancers, robot-assisted and microvascular surgery, minimally invasive thyroid/parathyroid surgery, the surgical treatment of salivary gland disease and skull base surgery. She has a specific interest in the minimally invasive treatment of oropharyngeal cancers and improving head and neck cancer patients’ quality of life. Dr. Haidar has a strong interest in clinical research and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and numerous book chapters on head and neck surgery. She also has an interest in peer education and has made presentations at national meetings, where she has earned multiple research awards. In addition, she enjoys helping medical students and residents advance in their clinical and research endeavors and has served as program director for the residency program for the last 3 years.

Edward Kuan, MD, MBA, FARS is Division Chief of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery, co-director of the Comprehensive Skull Base Program, and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. The focus of his clinical practice and academic expertise is rhinology, sinonasal tumors, and skull base surgery. He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA and received his medical degree from UC Irvine. He then completed residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at UCLA, followed by fellowship training in rhinology and skull base surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, review articles, and book chapters, is the primary editor of the International Consensus Statement on Allergy & Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors, and is active in the American Rhinologic Society, Triological Society, and North American Skull Base Society.

Dr. Ethan G. Muhonen is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, California, where he delivers comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents with disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and airway. After earning his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Muhonen completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. He then advanced his training through a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. In his clinical practice at CHOC, Dr. Muhonen treats a broad range of ENT patients, with particular interest in management of nasal obstruction, sinus disease, skull base tumors, and functional reconstructive surgery for congenital differences including otoplasty, functional rhinoplasty, repair of cleft lip and palate, and surgical management of velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Dr. Oliaei earned his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, La., followed by residency training in otolaryngology at UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA. He has practiced in both academic and private health settings, having joined UCI medical center last year after 10 years of practice with Multicare Health Systems in Tacoma, WA. Dr. Oliaei has a strong interest is minimally invasive management of neoplastic, autoimmune and obstructive salivary gland disorders with an emphasis on endoscopic and combined endoscopic management of salivary duct disease. His research interests include clinical outcome studies in parotid and submandibular sialendoscopy, as well as optimization of patient outcomes and resource utilization via enhancing the interface between subspecialty and acute/subacute care.

Dr. Pham earned his medical degree from UC Irvine School of Medicine and continued on to his residency at UC Davis Medical Center. He completed his pediatric fellowship training at Stanford University at Stanford’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. Dr. Pham is a board certified physician specializing in Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and is passionate about treating Pediatric hearing loss and cleft lip and palate. He serves as the Medical Director of the CHOC Cochlear Implant Program and also provides Craniofacial care with cleft lip, cleft palate and velopharyngeal surgeries as part of CHOC’s Craniofacial team.

Miriam Smetak, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at UC Irvine Medical Center. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Archaeology from the University of Southern California in 2010, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2017. Dr. Smetak received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2018, completed residency training in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2023, and subsequently pursued fellowship training in Otology and Neurotology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Smetak’s clinical interests include cochlear implantation, medical device innovation, and image-guided surgery. Dr. Smetak leverages her engineering background to address challenges in the operating room, with a particular emphasis on human factors and surgical ergonomics. She has also contributed to research on cochlear implant optimization and hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Kaleigh Stabenau, MD is an assistant clinical professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California-Irvine. She was the inaugural fellow for the Arizona Program for Exploration (APEX) Medicine and Surgery program through the University of Arizona-Phoenix and now serves as the assistant program director. Dr. Stabenau holds contracts with multiple commercial space companies and is involved in crew training, mission operations, and medical systems development for spaceflight. She has been involved in several human spaceflight missions since 2023 and served as flight surgeon for Axiom-3, Polaris Dawn, Fram2, and Axiom-4. Dr. Stabenau also holds a private pilot certificate and enjoys video games, cosplay, and science fiction writing in her spare time.

Dr. Chad Sudoko is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), where he provides specialized care for children with disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and airway. He earned his medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, then completed residency training in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sudoko went on to pursue fellowship training in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the nation’s leading centers for pediatric airway and ENT care.

Dr. Sudoko manages a wide range of pediatric conditions, including airway obstruction, recurrent ear disease, hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, congenital neck masses, voice disorders, and breathing or swallowing difficulties. He has particular interest in advanced airway reconstruction, minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, and comprehensive hearing and speech restoration strategies.
He is dedicated to ensuring that each child receives thoughtful, developmentally informed treatment that supports both immediate recovery and long-term wellness. Dr. Sudoko is also active in resident and medical student education and contributes to ongoing clinical initiatives aimed at improving outcomes in pediatric otolaryngology.

Dr. Mark Swanson is a fellowship-trained head and neck surgeon specializing in oncologic surgery and microvascular reconstruction. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Miami University of Ohio and received his medical degree from The Ohio State University, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Swanson completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California, followed by advanced fellowship training in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery and Microvascular Reconstruction at the University of Miami. Dr. Swanson is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, where he provides comprehensive care for patients with benign and malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, salivary glands, thyroid, and larynx. His surgical expertise includes the use of transoral robotic, organ-preservation, and microvascular reconstructive techniques to restore both form and function. Working within a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, and rehabilitation specialists, Dr. Swanson focuses on optimizing oncologic outcomes while preserving quality of life.

Dr. Trask received his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He has practiced in both academic and private practice settings, previously on faculty at both the University of Iowa and the Cleveland Clinic. His research background includes earning a PhD at The Ohio State University and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Douglas Trask is dual board-certified in Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine. He has a general practice in otolaryngology seeing common disorders effecting the ear, nose, and throat. He provides individualized evaluation combined with medical and surgical care that is driven by improving overall health and well-being. Dr. Trask specializes in surgical and other alternatives to CPAP therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea. He has been at the forefront of research bringing state-of-the-art treatments to people with sleep apnea including sedated evaluation of the airway and neurostimulation therapy. His clinical practice focuses on providing treatment options to those with sleep apnea that need a novel approach to their treatment. Dr. Trask has published extensively in both the basic science and clinical literature. He has won numerous awards for his research and he has lectured nationally and internationally about sleep apnea. He is actively involved in developing novel surgical treatments for sleep apnea. Dr. Trask is passionate about delivering individually tailored, patient-centered care for sleep disordered breathing and is a member of the comprehensive sleep medicine center at UCI.

Dr. Verma received his doctorate of medicine with honors from Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He completed his residency training in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California. His fellowship in Laryngology, Professional Voice, and Swallowing was completed at the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he trained under a team of world-renowned laryngologists, including Dr. Charles Ford. During his fellowship, Dr. Verma obtained advanced training in the management of disorders of voice, breathing and swallowing. Dr. Verma is an Professor, Director of Voice and Swallowing, and has served as Medical Director in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at UCI School of Medicine. He performs minimally invasive surgeries of the larynx and can perform many of the procedures traditionally performed in the operating room in an office setting. Dr. Verma has special expertise in the management of voice, breathing and swallowing disorders. With state-of-the-art equipment at the University Voice and Swallowing Center, Dr. Verma is able to perform numerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in-office instead of in the operating room. He offers patients minimally invasive interventions such as vocal fold injections, transnasal esophagoscopy and laser laryngotracheal surgery without sedation. Dr. Verma also has special training in the management of all cancers including laryngeal cancers. Using specialized instruments including microscopes and lasers, Dr. Verma is able to perform surgery for cancer in a way to preserve normal anatomy, while removing cancerous tissue, preserving function and improving patient’s quality of life.